A strange-looking deep-sea ‘dragon’ shark has amazed observers by appearing on a tourist beach. The pregnant Portuguese shark, typically residing 3,500m below the ocean’s surface, weighed 40lbs (18kg) and stretched an impressive 4ft 8in (1.45m) long. It was discovered on Luarca Beach, situated west of Gijón in north-western Spain, over the weekend.
This shark species, also called a Portuguese dogfish, was once extensively captured in the area for its meat and oil but is now on the brink of extinction. It mainly feeds on fish, mollusks, and sea mammals, with occasional encounters with giant squid. However, due to overfishing and low reproduction rates, the species is now protected from fishing activities.
Designated as ‘Near Threatened’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, these sharks are facing population decline challenges. Luis Laria, the president of the Center for Studies and Protection of Marine Species, conducted an examination on the shark to determine the cause of its death and why it ended up on the beach.
According to Luis, the shark, centroscymnus coelolepises, can endure immense pressures and depths of up to 3,500m. Despite an autopsy conducted on Sunday, the exact cause of the creature’s death remains uncertain. It is suspected that the shark was caught by a fishing crew but managed to escape, leading to fatal injuries.
During the examination, no clear cause of death was found apart from blood in the mouth, esophagus, and stomach. Additionally, the presence of gestation with 12 large eggs and signs of accidental capture were noted. Local residents likened the shark’s appearance to characters from the How to Train Your Dragon series, noting similarities to Toothless and Shadow.
